Anonymous wrote:If you are there for a clear night, I highly recommend Stars Over Sand Beach with a NPS Ranger. Bring blankets to lie on the beach and DRESS WARMLY (several layers), armed with a flashlight to find your way back to the car after stargazing.

I brought my kids one year (and we had good timing as there was a new moon) and they said they had never seen stars like that except for in a planetarium. Nothing like seeing the Milky Way galaxy in "real life"!

100 percent agree. It was the highlight of our trip.

I have been going to MDI every summer since I was a little girl and now enjoy taking my son there!

A few suggestions:

Reel Pizza- gets very crowded. To get tickets, especially for the earlier kid's show, you need to be in line about 30-45 minutes before the box office opens.
Jordan Pond House- you can get reservations, or alternatively plan on coming about 30 minutes before the end of the lawn service. We have been able to get seated quickly at that time
Hiking- our favorite kid-friendly hikes are South Bubble/Bubble Rock (and then popovers at Jordan Pond House), Flying Mountain, Beech Mountain, Great Head (near Sand Beach), Shore Walk
Diver Ed- I enjoyed it but my son (2 at the time) was pretty terrified. Diver Ed is really loud and he blows his diving suit up. If your child is afraid of mascots, it probably isn't the best trip. We did really like the little museum at the College of Atlantic (where the boat trip meets)
Restaurants- Thurston's and Side Street Cafe

My favorite places on the island that you didn't mention- Little Long Pond (we like swimming and having picnic) and then visiting Asticou Azalea Garden

Echo Pond is also a fun place for the kids to swim

Have fun!

Anonymous wrote:This post gave me a smile because I know you in real life, but didn't know you posted on dcum have fun R family!

Haha!! Message me on FB!

This post gave me a smile because I know you in real life, but didn't know you posted on dcum have fun R family!

I love Beal's!!

No suggestions just jealous! My sis is up in Maine right now and at their campsite, they were able to get fresh lobster for $6 for each child and $8 for each adult....Enjoy our trip!

Anonymous wrote:My 7yo absolutely loved the bee hive trail, but I don't think your 5 and 2 yo can do it.

Really? I was checking it out and I feel scared of doing it! Are you really hanging on iron bars perpendicular to the hill?

If you are there for a clear night, I highly recommend Stars Over Sand Beach with a NPS Ranger. Bring blankets to lie on the beach and DRESS WARMLY (several layers), armed with a flashlight to find your way back to the car after stargazing.

I brought my kids one year (and we had good timing as there was a new moon) and they said they had never seen stars like that except for in a planetarium. Nothing like seeing the Milky Way galaxy in "real life"!

We did Bar Harbor/Acadia last summer and it was a wonderful trip. Your itinerary looks great. One thing to note and consider, though, is the timing of any activities you plan inside the park if you are planning to drive and park. Other than the giant parking lot at the top of Cadillac, the smaller lots fill up in the summer -- even the one by Sand Beach -- so you could end up having a hard time getting to certain trailheads or places if you don't show up in the morning. This is not to make you overly anxious, but something to consider if there is a specific place you're planning to go and you want to park. I'd say if you get where you're going by 11 am you'll probably be able to park at all but the smallest lots - just my experience.

NP here- going to Maine this summer with a 3.5 and 7 YO, so this thread is really helpful.

Op here - thank you all so much! This is so helpful! I really appreciate it

Anonymous wrote:Oh true -
The shore trail near Jordan's Pond is a lot of fun and scenic. I just wasn't thinking that as the same as the Pond (which I just think of as the restaurant part).

That's funny - I think of the trail as the main way to experience Jordan Pond (since it goes all around the Pond right at the shoreline) and the popovers are just a nice treat when you're done.

Oh true -
The shore trail near Jordan's Pond is a lot of fun and scenic. I just wasn't thinking that as the same as the Pond (which I just think of as the restaurant part).

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My kids loved the Diver Ed excursion.....take a boat out, he dives down and picks up some sea creatures for everyone to see and then returns them to the ocean. http://divered.com/

A trip to Cranberry Islands was fun too.

Another recommendation for Diver Ed. My kids (9 and 7) loved that trip last summer. Land bridge also a hit - tons of starfish and if your kids like to toss a ball it's fun to do so there. Ghost tour was a complete bust - not worth it IMO. Jordan's Pond - other than the pop overs (which are yummy) there's not much to do.go to the Ranger Station when you first arrive and get one of those Jr Ranger books and go through the activities during your week. My kids also loved just poking around in all of the shops - very unique items - we didn't buy much but they had fun looking! Enjoy!!

The walk on the shore trail is lovely! Way better than popovers, which are delicious.

Anonymous wrote:My kids loved the Diver Ed excursion.....take a boat out, he dives down and picks up some sea creatures for everyone to see and then returns them to the ocean. http://divered.com/

A trip to Cranberry Islands was fun too.

Another recommendation for Diver Ed. My kids (9 and 7) loved that trip last summer. Land bridge also a hit - tons of starfish and if your kids like to toss a ball it's fun to do so there. Ghost tour was a complete bust - not worth it IMO. Jordan's Pond - other than the pop overs (which are yummy) there's not much to do.go to the Ranger Station when you first arrive and get one of those Jr Ranger books and go through the activities during your week. My kids also loved just poking around in all of the shops - very unique items - we didn't buy much but they had fun looking! Enjoy!!